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Sanford, Fla. - The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) will host the Public Health Garden and Community Food Pantry Ground Breaking and Ribbon Cutting Celebration. he event will take place on Thursday, February 21st from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the health department, located at 400 West Airport Boulevard, Sanford. The ground-breaking event will feature students form the Goldsboro Elementary School who will be planting vegetable plants and seeds in the new garden in collaboration with the University of Central Florida Arboretum Program. Attendees will also join local partners and leaders as they cut the ribbon on the re-opening of the food pantry in partnership with The Christian Sharing Center, Inc. and Seminole County Government.

"We are very excited about an on-site garden which will provide vegetables and fruits for the food pantry and the Goldsboro Farmers Market to help improve food insecurities in our community," said Donna Walsh, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County. "We know food security, poverty and access to transportation are some of the social determinants that impact health outcomes. Our goal is to continue to partner with local agencies to reduce barriers to wellbeing and increase positive health outcomes in our community. The co-location of the food pantry at the health department is also an innovative way to bring resources closer to the communities that need them and provide other services at the same location, as well as reduce access barriers."

The Public Health Garden is made possible in collaboration with partners from the University of Central Florida Arboretum Program, Farm Daddy, Seminole County Public Schools, Goldsboro Elementary School, Goldsboro Farmers Market and the DOH-Seminole Employee Wellness Committee. The garden will be located in an atrium at the health department in Farm Daddy self-irrigating plant boxes and maintained by DOH-Seminole employees under the coordination of the Employee Wellness Committee.

The food pantry is made possible in collaboration with The Christian Sharing Center, Inc., Seminole County Government and dedicated volunteers. The food pantry is open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the health department, since December 6, 2018.

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.